Madison Page, 13, from Great Hollands, suffers from alopecia areata, a form of hair loss thought to be caused by stress where clumps of hair the size of large coins fall out, causing bald patches. Madison was first diagnosed with the condition when a small clump of her hair fell out when she was a toddler after becoming locked in a toilet.

It wasn’t until she was in her final year at primary school that it started happening again, with the loss of her eyebrows, but since she turned 13 last September the progression of the hair loss has become far more rapid. This has resulted in the Ranelagh School pupil getting mistaken for having a more severe illness, such as cancer or leukaemia.

Madison’s mother Lisa Page said she is heartbroken by how depressed her daughter has become over the condition, saying she has not seen her smile since her 13th birthday party.

She said: “The stress of thinking about her condition just makes it worse. She just cannot come to terms with it and at the age of 13 it is lot for her to deal with – especially as a young girl who loves her hair.

“Friends and family have been very supportive but as her mum I just feel so helpless as there is nothing I can do physically to make her situation any better.” She believes people should be given a better understanding of the condition to avoid confusion, while also calling for a support group for alopecia sufferers to be set up in Bracknell.

Mrs Page added: “I really think Madison would feel a lot happier if people understood what she was going through and had others who are in the same situation as her to talk to.

“I’m her mum and I tell her she’s lovely and beautiful but they are just words to her – she needs people with alopecia to share her experiences with.” National charity Alopecia UK said it would encourage anyone looking to set up a support group for alopecia sufferers in Bracknell.

Amy Johnson, communications manager for Alopecia UK, said: “We find that one of the many challenges that people with alopecia face is the lack of awareness of the condition. Upon seeing a woman or child with hair loss, there can be an automatic assumption that they are undergoing chemotherapy.

“At Alopecia UK, we seek to highlight the psychological impact of alopecia and promote the need for greater support for those diagnosed. At the charity we believe that while alopecia is not life-threatening it can be life-changing, and people often need help to adapt to the changes that alopecia brings. To those who have alopecia, it is definitely not 'only hair’.” Mrs Page is currently trying to raise £1,800 for a custom-made wig for Madison, with more than £600 already collected for the cause. To donate to the fund, visit www.gofundme.com/jxxbbs or go online via www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=979111052118478 to visit Madison’s fundraising page.